COE 1941 Ford COE build

.... and one in the sun

 

Man that came out nice! Just need to extend that running board. I'll see what I can come up with. How much does it weigh?

 

Yup, extend the running boards and valances as well as build a roll pan... I was going to do the aluminum roll pan before paint until I saw the price of a 4x8' sheet now... Hoping the alum and steel prices might settle back before buying more...

It weighs in at a scant 4620, it was 5400 with the flatbed...

On the water leaks, I see a couple areas where the Sikaflex must have oozed out and my secondary bead inside is incomplete... I will complete the secondary bead... I've been against using a white silicone on the outside mostly because of yellowing, but I might just do the skyward portion... Even if that yellows, generally no one will see it. The rear window leaked too. I'm pretty sure I know why and it's easily fixed...

 

My buddy that picked up the truck with me sent this one.... we had to drag it onto the trailer, couldn't unlock the rear wheels...

 

Mystery solved on if he'd be more of an attention****** in black/grey primer or his new paint... Definitely the new paint.. Just around the block this morning there were 4 different people taking movies and a few others just taking pics...

 

Finished the Dynamat... resealed the cab/sleeper joint and the back window... I'll water test this week and keep my fingers crossed..... Still working out upholstery details.. Perforated material was not available. None of the samples I got were a match. We'll see what the upholstery guy gets for samples. Otherwise we'll probably go with the backup we selected last week. It's not an exact match to the seats, but it's close and won't be right against the existing stuff anyway...

 

Hoping to get to a car show May 22nd... Could happen, but I also said somewhere in this thread "Maybe I'll be done"..... in 2016....

 

backup perforated material will be used. It's just a little darker than the perf stuff on the seats... should be fine and he confirmed that it's available. 7-10 days for the stuff to arrive and then he'll begin...

 

I guess its official, he's an internet attention****** now... Someone posted a pic on Snapchat, the niece's BF brother asks her "Is that your uncle's truck"...

 

Went to a cruise night last night.. 1 32-ish Chevy coupe was in the lot as we went by and made our U turn. It was gone when we got there.. We parked and had dinner.. No cars other than us.. Decided to wait around a bit, two guys show up in a '57 Chevy and we chat for a while...

reseal of the cab to sleeper = win. Reseal of back window slider = fail... News at 11:00...

The windshield dribbles a little. I thought I had the gasket in there pretty good and it clamps closed quite well... not sure about next steps on this one...

 

Back window resealed.. When I pulled it out, I saw clearly where I screwed up... I didn't get it or the goop in the hole correctly... (Not the first time in my life...****WAAHHHH!!!) The top goop bead I placed on the window flange generally didn't even meet the sleeper opening surface... Should be all better now...

On to the windshield since my first thought that it didn't matter as much is incorrect.. I think leaks here will be a problem for a fancy, new interior... I'll pull the header panel and see if I can determine the source... It would be great if it was just the wiper motor holes that have rubber washers, bolts and chrome acorn nuts right now, but I won't hold my breath on that...

 

My buddy says "saddle tanks instead of extending the running boards", I say "Corvette fuel gauge and ECM issues". He says "They don't have to be fuel tanks"... I think Hmmmmmmmmm......

warning: Not Eli quality..

 

JMHO, but I think you need the continuity of a running board.

 

yep, have to agree, running board

 

They are most****uredly 2 completely different looks... I think I can pull off the saddle tanks only because I have blingy aluminum wheels... I also like the idea cuz they'll weigh considerably less than steel running boards and they could be air storage for future air things...

we'll see where I land...

Interior materials are in, that starts this week or next depending upon the weather.. The truck doesn't fit in his shop. I am putting up a canopy at his place.

I adjusted the windshield fitment and reduced the dribbles but could not stop them.. Not really sure where to go next on this one... Maybe a fresh, new seal that hasn't been installed incorrectly for 7 years? Maybe the old one took a set and the new one would be more pliable and forgiving? Or am I just peeing into the wind and the WS didn't seal in 1941 and it ain't gonna seal now unless I permanently goop it in?

 

... The other thing in play here is that I have never been really crazy about the valance under the sleeper... It's OK, but not great IMHO... (yes, I built it! )... Eli's rendition where that valance is one contiguous piece from Ford Cab to rear fender is much cleaner.... we'll see....

 

My 40 dollar boat/jeep/generic wiper setup is working! There were challenges.. Shortening the threaded shaft without cutting thru the inner drive shaft. It's SS, I expected it to be much harder than it was... The motor wants switched and unswitched GROUND.. Stock Corvette wiper wiring offers switched and unswitched positive... I could accommodate the wiper motor by giving it switched positive and unswitched ground but I don't get PARK unless I create a switched ground. I won't bother since in the end I want to use the Corvette wiper motor once I create a setup the rips off Steve's design.

I also had to figure out how the hell 110 degree swing worked... At first I thought, no way... Then I noticed the expensive wiper setups from Drake, Wescotts, etc for pickups were 110 degree.... How the hell can that be, it will hit the windshield frames on mine... Then I realized... Maybe they have a 9" blade rather than an 11" I was using... Lucky for me the Willys parked right beside the COE had a 9 incher... and it worked!

 

I was thinking about the switched ground requirement.... If I planned on the wipers as a permanent solution, I suspect I could just use a relay to create switched - from switched +.

BTW: I couldn't just swap the polarity on the wiper motor cuz the housing is "grounded". The motor ran just fine, but contract with the body of the truck would have been ugly.

 

Make 'em look like torpedo launchers.

 

Interior work has begun...

 

He has the sleeper panels in and the windlace in the cab... The man is truly an artist...

 

...start of faux banjo style steering wheel... Plan is just to bolt it onto the existing Vette wheel... Then do something with the Vette alum wheel "arms"... Maybe shine the alum or paint blue or black... dunno...

 

Mockup in steel. I was guessing where the Corvette arms were since I don't have the steering wheel at my house right now... But it gives me a general idea how it will look..... Final product will be SS and need a second bend or curve up under the leather.....

 

The truck has been outside under a canopy while at the upholstery shop... I noticed yesterday that the Zamak is taking it on the chin... It appears to have oxidized jut from a couple rain storms... My fancy polishing is getting ruined... I'll need to seal it somehow but the paint shop thought clearcoat would just peel off the smooth surface.... Any ideas, guys??

 

Just a quick off-the-top-of-my-head thought. Nickel plating kit, nickel will polish up well.

 

B pillars done, he was starting on the sleeper walls yesterday... "Soon, Ralphy, soon!"...

 

.... supposed to come home today!!! Unfortunately, when I closed the driver's door last night I heard "PING"... Hmmmm, what was that? The latch is inside the door and not coming out... Ugh... I think the little spring let go... Good news is that I have a new spare... Bad news is pulling the door apart including that pretty new door panel....

 

first car show.... First Place in the Rods and Custom category! I thought we'd make the top 3, but didn't really think #1. There were some very nice hot rods there including a 34 Plymouth......

 

went to repair the PING I heard in the driver's door... No problem, I have a spare spring, right??

problem!!


FB Marketplace guy agrees to meet me the same day about 50 miles from my house.... I simply could not resist the whole box and it was a good thing cux the red one that I thought was right wasn't...